How to Test the Speed of Your Broadband Connection

If you want to know the accurate speed of your internet connection, the best places to check it are broadband speed testing websites. These handy tools allow you to see whether your internet connection is running at its optimum speed or is weaker than it should be. It is often the speed of your connection that affects whether you can successfully stream a video or how long a download takes.

To check the speed of your connection, simply search 'broadband speed test' into a search engine and click on one of the results. Usually, all you need to do then is click the button or link that is marked 'run speed test' or something to that effect.

The speed of your broadband connection is calculated by measuring how long it takes to download a set amount of data. The speed of your connection is then recorded in kilobits per second (Kbps). Most internet service providers (ISPs) measure the speed of the connections they offer in megabits per second (Mbps). If you want to know your connection speed in Mbps, simply divide the score you get by 1000.

There are many factors that could affect the results of a speed test. Downloading a large file or streaming a video will make your score look a lot lower than it really is. Make sure that you are not downloading anything and that there are no program updates going on in the background before running your speed test. The time of day that you are performing the test can also have a bearing on the results you receive; if you choose to run the test when the working day is finished and most people have arrived home for the evening, you will experience slower speeds than if you ran the same test mid-morning, after the majority of people have gone to work.

It is best to perform a speed test a number of times, at different points throughout the day. When your results are consistently similar, you have the most accurate reading you can get. If you have friends or family that use a different ISP but are on a similar tariff to you, ask them to perform connection speed tests at similar times to you and compare the results you both get.

You may be concerned that it takes longer to upload files than it does to download them. This is not something to worry about, as most broadband connections are 'asymmetric' and down speeds tend to be a little faster than up speeds. As most consumers download files more often than they upload them, this is rarely an issue, but if you need faster upload speeds, you may be better off signing up to a faster connection deal.

Tony Smith - About Author:Broadband Speed Tester is an online tool that allows you to perform a free broadband speed test on your connection, so you can check that your home broadband speeds are consistent and you are receiving the connection you are paying for. Visit the site now to make sure your broadband provides the speeds advertised.